Maison et Objet 2018 is once again turning the spotlight on the Rising Talents, one of the most anticipated events for talent scouts and trend hunters all over the world. Maison et Objet 2018’s dedication to promoting design in all its diversity is best illustrated by the Rising Talent Awards: every edition young designers from a different country are invited to present their work to the international community of industry professionals. Team up with Best Design Guides and get to know the Maison et Objet 2018 lucky young designers to be featured in the program!

This time (from 19 to 23 January 2018), the Rising Talents will all be from Italy, a country
where a new generation is finding its voice in design. A new generation of determined and
committed designers are once again asserting their identity, proving their capacity to connect with local artisans and their unparalleled level of excellence, and bringing new momentum to SMEs and historic brands through innovative ideas. A small revolution that is restoring Italy’s status as a major design reference worldwide. This is best demonstrated by the fact that many young Italian designers, who choose to move
abroad for their studies or first jobs, eventually find their way back to their home country.

« A wonderful opportunity for them to show their immense potential. »

Frederica Biasi

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A 2011 graduate of the Istituto Europeo di Design, Federica Biasi (b. 1989) worked with various design firms in Milan until 2014, when she decided to move to Amsterdam to hone her style and complete her projects, largely inspired by the simple lines of Northern European design. Since her return to Italy, she has worked as Art Director for
Mingardo, while collaborating as a Creative Consultant with various brands, including Fratelli Guzzini. In addition to her consulting work for specific brands, focusing mainly on colour palettes, materials and finishes, she also creates ceramic pieces, decorative items and textile products as a way to celebrate the excellence of Italian artisanship.

In 2013, during his final presentation of his graduation project at Milan’s Istituto Europeo di Design, he caught Giulio Cappellini’s attention as he was sitting on the jury. The encounter marked the beginning of a productive collaboration (exhibitions, shops, communication campaigns), which culminated in the release of a whole collection in 2017. Luce is a series of glass tables with uncluttered geometric lines and different coloured sides, that create a surprising chromatic effect as users move around the object.

“Despite his young age, Antonio Facco is very attentive to changes in contemporary design and to communication. His projects are largely inspired by his observations of the younger generations, of their expectations and their behaviours. He has also developed a keen interest in materials and production methods, whether industrial or artisanal.” – Giulio Cappelini, Antonio Facco‘s mentor.

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After studying architecture at the École Spéciale d’Architecture in Paris and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, he collaborated with Riccardo Blumer, whose influence has contributed to his remarkable affinity with object design, and with Paris-based studio LAN Architecture. In 2014, he founded Atelier Lavit in Paris, where he now resides, a project that spans Italy and France, mostly focused on design and architecture. Marco Lavit Nicora’s work is entirely based on the proximity and the dialogue he has with artisans, especially Italian artisans as he has always favoured the excellent craftsmanship.

Marco Lavit Nicora is a young talent, heir to a long line of Italian designers who have placed function at the core of their practice and who have learnt to use only the best materials and artisans our country has to offer to achieve that vision. I was especially moved by how light his pieces look, despite the fact that they are deeply anchored in classical design.” – Rosita Missoni, Marco’s mentor.

Originally from Okinawa, Japan, Kensaku Oshiro graduated from the Scuola Politecnica di Milano in 1999 with a Master’s degree in industrial design. He then went on to collaborate with various design studios, including Lissoni Associati in Milan (2004-2012) and Barber and Osgerby in London (2012-2015). After returning to Milan, he opened his own studio and started working with such brands as Boffi, De Padova, Gan, Glas Italia, Kristalia, Ligne Roset, Poltrona Frau, Viccarbe and Zanotta. His projects have earned him several international accolades: First place for Design Report Award at the 2016 Milan
Salone Satellite, EDIDA – Young Design Talent Japan in 2016, etc.

For architect and designer Piero Lissoni, who has worked with him for eight years, Kensaku Oshiro’s work bridges “the gap between the Japanese and Western perspectives on simplicity/complexity.”

Federico Peri

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He had just graduated from the Interior Design Department of Milan’s Istituto Europeo di Design when Federico Peri received a grant to study in Paris. From this very intense time of his life, he remembers the passion he felt for the great masters, his encounter with designers like Matali Crasset and Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, and his fascination for the conflict and synergy between historical and contemporary design styles. When he returned to Milan, he worked with Vudafieri Saverino Partners until 2011, then founded his own studio, specialising in interior architecture and interior design. He has collaborated with companies like FontanaArte and has his limited-edition pieces displayed at the Milan-based Nilufar Gallery – including Shapes, a collection of lamps nominated for a German Design Award in 2016.

“It is this type of completely instinctual process that makes Federico particularly interesting on the Italian scene. But it’s also what gives him immense potential abroad. I am especially curious to see how his approach will evolve as he shifts towards more industrial processes. The result will most likely be very moving.” – Italian designer Luca Nichetto.

Since the very beginning, Poletti has developed a clear, yet truly personal language, deeply rooted in his research on materials and their limitations (especially considerations relating to balance and fragility). His simple structures and elementary constructions stand as metaphors of defeated complexity, especially through the use of unconventional details. His approach is based on a ‘thinking by doing’ philosophy, which he combines with a good deal of intuition, to produce extremely coherent results. The Design Museum Gent has recently acquired a prototype for his Equilibrium Stool as part of their permanent collection.

“Like many other designers who graduated from this school, his work is strongly influenced by an experimental approach,” explained uber-famous contemporary design icon Rossana Orlandi.